Combination tie-plate and brace for railroad-rails.



A. L. COLE. COMBINATION TIE PLATE AND BRAOE FOR RAILROAD RAILS.

APPLIOATION IILED FEB. 12, 1913. 1,062,694, Patented May 27, 1913..

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A. L. COLE.

COMBINATION TIE PLATE AND BRAGE FOR RAILROAD RAILS.

APPLIOA TION FILED FEB. 12, 1913.

Patented May 27, 1913.

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@ v TQMMM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT Id. COLE, OF AUBURNDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO FRANCIS J'. V. DAKIN, TRUSTEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINATION TIE-PLATE AND BRACE FOR RAILROAD-RAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1913.

Application filed February 12, 1913. Serial No. 747,837.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburndale, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Combination Tie-Plate and Brace for Railroad-Rails, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a combination tie plate and brace for railroad rails and this application is for a tie plate such as is described and claimed broadly in a prior application filed by me December 2, 1912, Serial No. 734,483, in combination with a brace.

In the operation of railroads at the present time, owing to the continual increase in the weight of locomotives and cars without any corresponding increase in the gage of the rail road or construction of the road bed, it is constantly becoming more difficult to secure the rails so firmly to the ties or sleepers as to obviate the possibility of the rail being tipped over or spread. hen a heavy locomotive of the modern type takes a curve or cross-over at high speed the lateral strain on the rails is enormous and frequently results in the spikes being pulled out of the sleepers and the rail tipped over, thereby causing a wreck. It is of the greatest importance, therefore, that the rails be so secured to the sleepers and so braced against a lateral strain that they will stand up under the present severe traffic conditions.

The object of this invention is to provide a tie plate having means for supporting a rail against lateral thrust.

A further object is to provide a combined tie plate and brace of such form and construction that the weight of the train upon the rail serves to hold the tie plate and brace in position to prevent its lateral displacement and thereby to offer an effective resist ance to the lateral strain on the rail.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a combined tie plate and brace of low cost, which may be easily applied and easily removed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tie plate and brace showing the frame partly in section, the gripping clamps in position to receive the rail and one end of the rail in position to be dropped upon the gripping clamps; Fig. 2 is a view of the same but showing the rail in its final position, the points of the gripping clamps having been forced into the sleeper, the rail dropped in place and the flanges engaging the foot of the rail, the upper part of the rail being supported in the brace; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, the rail being broken away to show the various parts in plan; Fig. l is an end elevation of the same looking from right to left in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the gripping members of the tie plate.

In the drawings, the preferred form of my invention is shown as applied to a railroad rail and sleeper of ordinary and usual construction. The rail consists of a foot or flange 6 a neck or web 7 and a tread 8 and 9 designates a sleeper or tie.

The tie plate comprises a frame 10, preferably rectangular in plan and having a central space to receive two gripping clamps 11 of like form; each having at its outer end a flange 12 curving upwardly and inwardly and at its inner end a depending spike or point 13. In size the clamps are such as to fit closely within the frame in order that there may be no lateral movement of the parts when in final adjusted position. The

flanges 12 serve to grip the foot of the rail firmly between them when in position and the spikes or points 18 penetrate the sleeper and constitute additional means for preventing lateral movement or displacement. In this connection the inward curvature of the flanges 12 is an important feature, as they are depended upon to grip the rail so firmly as to prevent any longitudinal movement or creeping thereof. Therefore, the flanges must be curved inwardly sufliciently to grip the foot of the rail firmly when in final position, yet not so much as to prevent the rail being dropped between the flanges when being laid. At the same time, the inner end surfaces 14 of the clamps are curved, preferably on or about the points 15 as centers in order that the clamps may engage each other at their inner ends at all times during the operation of adjusting them under the rail; that is, in moving them from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that in Fig. 2. This permits the clamps to fit the central space within the frame accurately and tightly and obviates any rattling.

So far this construction is broadly the same as that shown and claimed in my application hereinbefore referred to and the new feature intended to be covered by this application consists of the following: At one end the frame 10 is extended and formed into an upwardly and inwardly curving brace 16, the frame and brace being integral. The brace has a head 17 the inner face of the latter having a recess 18 to engage one side of the tread of the rail as shown in Fig. 2. The frame and brace may be secured in position on the sleeper by spikes 19 placed at suitable intervals around the frame which may be provided with recesses 20 to receive them. If desired a spike hole 21 may be arranged at the point of greatest strain. The number and arrangement of recesses and spike holes may however be varied to suit the exigencies of use.

In the use of my invention on railroads, the frame is first adjusted in position upon the sleeper as shown in Fig. 1 and the rail is then dropped upon the clamps. If the weight of the rail is not suflicient to cause the spikes to penetrate the sleeper the rail may be struck with a hammer in order to drive the spikes downwardly and allow the rail to fall between the flanges of the clamps into the position shown in Fig. 2. The frame and brace may be then spiked to the sleeper. In applying my invention to a rail already in place it will be found preferable to slightly hollow the sleeper so as to allow for the thickness of the frame. The rail is then slightly raised and the frame with the clamps in position pushed in under the rail which may then be dropped.

To remove the rail from the device it is necessary only to draw the spikes and then raise the rail with a lever in order to withdraw the spikes or points on the clamps from the sleeper whereupon the rail may be withdrawn from between the clamps.

In the operation of my invention, the device is most effective at the time when the strain is greatest. The lateral or longitudinal strains on the rail are present only when a locomotive or train is passing over the rail and at this time the weight of the locomotive or cars causes the rail to be depressed and the inner ends of the clamps to be pressed down thereby throwing their flanges inwardly toward each other and causing them to grip more tightly the foot of the rail. At the same time the lateral strain is received by the brace which in addition to its normal strength due to its form and fastening means has an additional strength due to the facts that it is integral with the frame and that the latter extends under the rail. In effect the weight of the train upon the effectiveness to that extent.

' prising a frame and brace at one end of said rail serves to hold the brace in place against the lateral strain and thereby to increase its It is apparent therefore that the brace cannot be moved or displaced without separating it from the frame and for that reason the strength of the frame must be overcome as well as the normal strength of the brace before the rail will be effected by a lateral strain. It may be noted in this respect that the direction of the strain from the rail to the frame is as near parallel to the plane of the frame as is practicable and for this reason its effect upon the frame so far as breakage is concerned, is minimized. This also prevents the brace drawing or loosening the spikes under lateral strain.

lVhat I claim is 1. A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame adapted to fit under a rail, a brace integral with said frame for engaging the upper portion of a rail to support the same against lateral thrust and inde pendent means within said frame for gripping the foot of a rail.

2. A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame adapted to be mounted between a rail and sleeper and having at one end an integral brace and means within said frame for gripping the foot of a rail; said means being so formed that any weight on the rail serves to increase their grip on the rail.

3. A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame adapted to be mounted between a rail and a sleeper and having at one end an upwardly and inwardly curved brace for engaging the upper portion of a rail and independent means within said frame for gripping the foot of a rail; said means being so formed that their grip on the rail is increased by an increase of weight on the rail.

4. A combination tie-plate and brace comframe and integral with it and vertically movable means within said frame for gripping and holding the foot of a rail.

5. A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame provided with an integral brace to engage and support the upper part of a rail and vertically movable means within said frame for receiving and gripping the foot of a rail.

6. A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame having an integral brace at one end and two gripping clamps arranged within said frame, each of said clamps being provided with means to grip the foot of a rail between them. A

7 A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame having at one end an in tegral brace and two gripping clamps arranged within said frame; each of said clamps having a curved flange at its outer 130 end to engage the foot of a rail and means 'at its inner end for penetrating a sleeper.

8. A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame adapted to fit under a rail, a brace integral with said frame for en gaging the upper portion of a rail and two clamps within said frame for gripping the foot of a rail.

9. A combination tie-plate and brace comprising a frame having at one end an integral brace and having two gripping clamps arranged within said frame, each of said clamps having a curved flange for engaging the foot of a rail.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my 15 hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this the tenth day of February, 1913.

ALBERT L. COLE.

Witnesses:

E. F. UNIAO, NATHANIEL B. WALES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

